Eliasson said in a Wednesday interview with al-Arabiya channel “Iran is an actor on so many scenes, I myself have worked with Iranian officials on Afghanistan for instance. I worked also earlier on other issues related to Persian Gulf security.”

SHAFAQNA- UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson says the Islamic Republic plays a key role in settling many of regional issues.

Eliasson said “I would say that if we could have a constructive Iranian role on several issues related to region’s security, it would be a gain,” noting that diplomatic exchanges between Iran and Saudi Arabia would help improve the security of the region.

He said “One of the most important dialogues that can take place today is the dialogue between Saudi Arabia and Iran.”

Eliasson added that the talks between Tehran and Riyadh “could have strategic significance and could also have a great significance in a time you see, in my view, exaggerated and absolutely unnecessary tensions between people of different beliefs.”

The comments come days after Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Saudi counterpart Prince Saud al-Faisal met on the sidelines of the 69th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.